Weight Watchers or My Fitness Pal?

BradandLibby

I used WW off and on for the past 20 years. I went to meetings, used on-line only, went solo, went with friends, tried at-work, and nothing stuck. I don't even want to think about how much of my money WW has. Can you say second home? (That's an exaggeration.) But I was swayed by the proclamations that using WW was the best of the diet plans. I hated going to the meetings, but I thought it was just an evil necessity to lose weight. What I remember was being so hungry all the time when I was actually doing the plan. I would be successful for six weeks, then I would stop going to meetings or tracking on line. Like many of us, I blamed it on my metabolism.

I only started MFP a couple of months ago, but the mind set difference is incredible. And I've lost more weight than at any time I was with WW. Oh, CICO, yeah, that makes complete sense. I know WW uses the same concept, but it's not presented that way. When I would hear that people lose on average .5 - 2 pounds a week, I would always hope that I would be that person who loses the 2 pounds per week. It never occurred to me that it wasn't just luck.

Why did it take me so long to realize that for the most part I can control the rate of weight loss? And that my option didn't have to be eating only 1200 calories a day? That I can eat 1700 calories (for right now), be satiated, and still lose weight. And that exercise isn't necessary, but it sure makes it easier. It's so simple (yet hard): CICO. And it's taken me 20 years to figure it out. Doh! But I know now. And I will never go back to WW, but I don't think it's bad at all, just not for me.

happyheart15

atypicalsmith wrote: »

I have never, and will never, do WW. Because I have known many people in my life who have, and either they (a) don't lose weight or (b) lose weight then gain it all back again.

People lose and gain back weight with MyFitnessPal and other diets too. That's not just a Weight Watchers thing.

atypicalsmith

happyheart15 wrote: »

atypicalsmith wrote: »

I have never, and will never, do WW. Because I have known many people in my life who have, and either they (a) don't lose weight or (b) lose weight then gain it all back again.

People lose and gain back weight with MyFitnessPal and other diets too. That's not just a Weight Watchers thing.

Difference between WW and MFP is the money spent on the program.

dubird

I would much prefer MFP. It's free and I have a lot more freedom in what I eat instead of having to follow their point system. However, if the point system is easier for you, then there's nothing wrong with WW. The key is to pick whichever one will be the most sustainable for you long term. Because remember, this isn't a 'diet' you're going on, you're aiming to change your eating habits for the rest of your life. And personally, there's not any of the WW food I'd be willing to eat for the rest of my life!

susiederkins21

I have done WW online and in my opinion MFP is easier to use and gives me a better understanding of what I put in my body and the relationship between exercise and my calorie goals. And it's FREE. And the people are supportive! And MFP doesn't have its own line of processed food that it wants me to buy. It's just better in every way.